Still, the former "American Idol" sparring partners -- together again at the judges' desk on the new show -- managed to display some of the sniping-sibling behavior that helped make"Idol" an era-defining TV hit.

Example:

"It's nice to be back in the demented relationship," Abdul said. "It's like home."

"It's like mummy and daddy had a trial separation and now they're back together," added "X Factor" host Steve Jones.

"I think it's more like 'The Exorcist 2," said Cowell.

Other judges on the show's panel are producer L.A. Reid and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who also attended the panel.

The session was not without news.

Fox announced the show's schedule beyond its Sept. 21 premiere.

The show's "Boot Camp" phase will launch Oct. 5, during which "the contestants will face the panel of judges and a live audience as they are judged on their singing, dancing and overall performance styles," said the network in a news release. "Those who make it through 'Boot Camp' will earn a place in one of four 'The X Factor' categories: young guys, young girls, older singers and groups. After the categories of semifinalists are set, 'The X Factor' producers surprise the judges with the category they will mentor. Then, the remaining contestants from each category will visit the 'Judges’ homes' for their chance to make it to the live shows" in episodes to air starting Oct. 12.

The season's finalists will be revealed in a two-and-a-half-hour episode Oct. 25. Performance and vote-off shows begin Nov. 2.

Fox also announced that the sing-off's winner, in addition to getting a $5 million recording-contract prize, will be featured in a Pepsi commercial to air during NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI.

"It's a money-can't-buy prize," Cowell said of the Super Bowl spot. "And it makes the stakes that much more exciting."

Perhaps it will be a talking-baby commercial. The lower end of the contestants' age range for "The X Factor" is 12.

Unlike "Idol," "X" will have no upper age limit. The new show is also open to groups.

"Ten years ago, (pre-teen contestants) would've all been singing 'On The Good Ship Lollipop,'" Cowell said, adding that the influence of the Internet has made younger performers today much more pop-savvy. "They're influenced by other people on the Internet and are very cool and very switched-on. I think you're going to see a surprising amount of stars from that age range this year."

Cowell was asked if he's going to be nicer to the show's kinder-contestants.

"If I'm being honest with you ... it's the other way around," Cowell said. "We've had to say to 13-year-olds, 'Can you be kind to me?' They were more lippy than any contestants I've seen in my life.

"When you've got young contestants, you make the call whether you think they're up for it or not.

"There was a kid in New York, a little rapper, he absolutely chewed me apart. But I quite like that."

It has been too long since I've seen Simon Cowell be mean to people on a TV screen. But here he was at the TCA TV critics' press tour session for The X Factor, appearing via satellite from what looked like a fancy hotel lounge in a geographically nondescript location. His first line, after materializing, supervillain-like, on the giant screen: "I don't hear the applause."

Cowell took responsibility for replacing judge Cheryl Cole with Scherzinger, who originally was a co-host. "We made a decision when filming the show that Cheryl we felt was going to be more comfortable doing the UK show than the American show … When you make reality TV, real things happen. It doesn't always go your way," he said. Negotiations with Cole ultimately fell apart.

The X Factor’s Simon Cowell confirmed Friday that he had his eye on singer Mariah Carey to join the Fox reality series judges’ panel.

“She’s been very enthusiastic about the show, but then she selfishly got pregnant, which is why she didn't end up as a judge,” Cowell said Friday at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour stop in Beverly Hills.

Dave Walker can be reached at dwalker@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3429. Read more TV coverage at NOLA.com/tv. Follow him at twitter.com/davewalkertp.